Wee: Tap into China’s appetite for Malaysian fruits

by The Star Malaysia

YONG PENG (The Star/ANN): Owners of orchards and small fruit farms, especially those here, should seize the opportunity that comes with China’s huge appetite for local fruits, said Mini­ster in the Prime Minister’s Depart­ment Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said besides durians, the Chinese also love pineapples and jackfruit, which are expected to see a surge in exports to China.

He said fruit farm owners here, being the largest fruit collection and distribution centre in peninsular Malaysia, should grasp this opportunity and start planting these fruits to cater to the market.

He said RM160mil worth of pineapples would be exported to China this year following the Government’s recent visit to China, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, which inked several landmark deals with the republic.

“By 2020, the amount is expected to increase two-fold to about RM320mil,” said Dr Wee, who is MCA deputy president, when launching the Ayer Hitam MCA division annual general meeting on Thursday night.

On a separate issue, Dr Wee asked Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to tackle the problem of gambling dens, and not compare which state has the most such operators.

Dr Wee has been reported as saying that the Penang government needs to work with the federal authorities to shut down illegal gambling dens.

This came after Lim accused Dr Wee of political assassination following Selangor and Penang, both Opposition-led states, being named as having the highest number of illegal gambling dens in the country.